The Detroit Tigers Need to Trade Shane Greene

Shane Greene is having an outstanding season. Not only has it been a career year for the 30 year old closer, but he is currently one of the top relief options available at the trade deadline. Trading Shane Greene can help the Tigers replenish a farm system that has been light since their playoff runs earlier this decade. The team unfortunately does not have many assets, but this is one that they could sell and hopefully receive a haul of assets in return.

A Look at the League

It is no secret that relievers change hands quite a bit nowadays. There were approximately 21 major league relief arms dealt in the two weeks leading up to the trade deadline last year. That’s a lot of relievers. With the emphasis on relievers in the playoffs, it is important for contenders to add to their relief corps to make a deep post season run. Ryan Pressly and Roberto Osuna joined the Astros to help bolster their bullpen. Brad Hand and Adam Cimber went to the Indians. The Yankees added Adam Ottavino and Zach Britton.

Shane Greene’s Numbers

Shane Greene has to be dealt before this year’s trade deadline expires. He is only making $4 million dollars this season, and he has one year left on his deal before free agency. Greene has put together quite the season on a woeful Detroit Tigers team. He has thrown 33 innings out of the bullpen this year, and has a 1.09 ERA. That ERA mark is second out of 170 qualified relievers(trailing only Liam Hendriks of the Oakland Athletics). Greene has only given up four runs all season.

Greene has outpaced most of his career numbers to this point in the season. His BB/9 of 2.7 is tied for the lowest mark in his career (tied with 2018). Greene owns a 5.2 H/9 as well as a 0.879 WHIP, and both of these are also career lows. His strikeouts? That sits at a 9.3 K/9, which is second to his 2017 season. He is keeping runners off of the bases and the other team out of the runs column.

The 30-year-old reliever might not be the top arm available come the trade deadline. However, it is imperative that the Tigers trade him at this deadline because his value will not get any higher. He has a year of control left, and he is having a career year. The Detroit Tigers do not have too many traceable assets, and they need to capitalize on Shane Greene’s highly effective season. This trade deadline seems like it will include a plethora of relief pitchers, and the Tigers NEED to try to get some assets.